Netherlands striker Cody Gakpo experiences personal drama and scores heartbreaking goal after losing child during pregnancy By Thiago Lemos
2 min read
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Striker Cody Gakpo, from the Dutch national team, had a moment of intense emotion last Monday (29) when he found the net in the match against Morocco for the 2026 World Cup. The celebration of the goal, which opened the scoring for the Netherlands, was marked by tears, revealing the player’s deep sadness over the recent loss of his son while still pregnant. Despite his grief, the athlete decided to remain in the competition, demonstrating remarkable inner strength.
Upon converting the opportunity, Gakpo immediately knelt on the pitch, overcome with emotion and covering his face with his shirt in a gesture of venting and pain. His Dutch teammates quickly approached, offering support and solidarity to the attacker during such a personal and delicate moment.
The news of the pregnancy loss was shared publicly by Gakpo’s teammate, Noa van der Bij, on the Saturday before the game. The player had been temporarily released from the team’s concentration to provide support to his family. However, in a demonstration of commitment and resilience, he returned to join the squad in the decisive clash against Morocco.
Ronald Koeman, coach of the Netherlands, spoke about what happened before the game, describing it as extremely sad news for Cody and his family. The coach made a point of highlighting the full support offered by the coaching staff and athletes to the player. Koeman emphasized Gakpo’s great maturity in dealing with the tragedy, stating that the striker never expressed a desire to leave the national team, and that his remarkable mental strength prepared him for the game without compromising his performance.
